Raul Mirelez’ grieving friends and family were left baffled as to why the promising Weslaco student took his own life.
"He was really excited because he was going to try out for cheerleading, he had his paperwork filled out and he was going to have practice this week,” said his math teacher Raquel Alvarado Rico.
Unfortunately, his dreams of cheering under the Weslaco Panther Stadium lights have been dimmed forever.
The 16-year-old high school student hanged himself Friday at his home.
Rico said the teen's sudden death has the school in shock.
"He had all these plans,” said Rico. “What in the world happened between him talking to me on Wednesday and then to Friday? It’s so upsetting.”
Rico said Raul was a good student, ever smiling and never the victim of bullies.
She says he was actually very happy because he and his girlfriend had recently reconciled.
"It was kind of surprising because he was always that smiling person,” said Rico. “Nothing ever got him down.”
The Weslaco Panthers are still recovering from another teen's suicide, which coincidentally happened around this time last year.
Administrators said since that tragic moment, they have put in place preventative and counseling programs.
"It's devastating,” said Weslaco High School Principal Isidoro Nieto. “You try and work with students as much as you can and try to let them know that there is help here in the schools. Whether it’s talking to a counselor, an assistant principal, they're favorite teacher or myself, you try to relate to them so that anytime they need assistance we are there for them.”
Principal Nieto said one dozen grief counselors will be on hand at the campus in the coming weeks giving students, administrators and parents a chance to talk about what happened.
There will be a viewing for Raul at his family’s home at 6 p.m. Thursday.
A mass will take place Friday at San Martin Parrish in Weslaco followed by a burial at La Blanca Cemetery west of Edcouch-Elsa.
Donations for the family are being accepted at Weslaco High School.
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